In September 2011, BBC Three controller Zai Bennett cancelled the Doctor Who Confidential programme as a cost-cutting measure. Confidential was a programme that went behind the scenes of the making of the BBC's flagship drama, Doctor Who. It also covered various events in the series for broadcast on BBC One, and provided a full disc of extras for the DVD and Blu-Ray box set releases.

A highlight of the last series was the 'Script To Screen' segment in which schools were encouraged to enter a competition to write a script that would be filmed and broadcast on Confidential - the mini-episode would even star Matt Smith.

After the cancellation, a huge campaign to save the show was initiated by fans of the show leading to a petition with fifty-five-thousand signatures and support from various members of the industry, including the writer Neil Gaiman.

A group of Doctor Who Podcasters decided to write and record a song about the cancellation. The collective eventually became known as 'No Touch Pod'.

Tony Gallichan from the Flashing Blade and DWO WhoCast podcasts wrote the tune and some of the lyrics, aided by Karen Dunn from the Staggering Stories podcast. Then a good number of podcasters from around the world recorded their own take on the song. These were then assembled and the music track recorded by producer Chris Adams.

It must be stressed that the song is not intended as a serious protest record. It is a bit of fun, a gentle parody of the 'Doctor In Distress' record from nineteen eighty five. Several 'Who Celebs' have contributed to the song, including the writers Nev Fountain and Stephen Gallagher, and the 'Voice Of Axos', Bernard Holley.

However, whilst light hearted, it does make the point that Confidential is a source of inspiration to both children and adults. It shows them how their imaginations, which have been fired by Doctor Who, can be harnessed to create, to write, to produce music, film and literature. Indeed, the people both behind and onb the song have all felt that inspiration from the shows.

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The petition to save Confidential has been presented to the BBC Trust and can be found here: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savedwc

The song, avaliable in several versions, as well as the video, can be found here: http://www.netconjurer.co.uk/confidential/

[Source: DWPA]

The campaign to save Doctor Who Confidential, which was recently axed by the BBC is doing exceptionally well with over 50,000+ fans having now signed the online petition!

As of 2:00pm today, the petition has achieved 51,539 signatures and at the end of the day a total count will be sent to the BBC Trust.

Did you know, if the campaign achieves just 49,000+ more signatures, the matter has to be discussed by UK parliament. Hopefully those involved at axing the show will see sense before then, but in the meantime a huge thanks needs to go out to the @SaveDWC team as well as each and every fan who has signed the petition.

Get involved and help Save Doctor Who Confidential!:

+  Send a complaint to the BBC regarding the cancellation of Doctor Who Confidential!

+  Sign the online petition, which currently has over 15,000+ signatures!

+  Follow the @SaveDWC Twitter account!

[Source: DWO]

Yesterday was a dark day for Doctor Who fans, as news came in about the cancellation of Doctor Who companion series, Doctor Who Confidential.

Since that news, all corners of the internet have come together to show their support by signing online petitions, tweeting and emailing their concerns to the BBC.

Some of the older fans are particularly passionate to this campaign due to poignant memories of the cancellation of Doctor Who back in 1989, and with even more fans of the show now, the question remains if enough support can actually save the companion show?

Details have emerged today that the BBC have received over 1,100 complaints regarding Doctor Who Confidential's cancellation, with confimation being posted on the show's official Facebook page.

This Saturday will be the last episode of Doctor Who Confidential for the forseeable future, but you can do your part to show your support for the show using any one (or all) of the options below:

+  Send a complaint to the BBC regarding the cancellation of Doctor Who Confidential!

+  Sign the online petition, which currently has over 15,000+ signatures!

+  Follow the @SaveDWC Twitter account!

There is no guarantee that any of the above will ensure the safety of the show, but any show of support is a step in the right direction. With enough fans on board, who knows what could happen?!

[Source: DWO]

The BBC is to axe Doctor Who Confidential, the BBC3 spin-off from its sci-fi drama, as part of the corporation's ongoing cuts programme.

Doctor Who Confidential, which features behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Doctor Who as well as interviews with the cast and crew, has aired in an early evening slot on BBC3 since 2005, when the corporation revived the main series with Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Time Lord.

However, with the corporation facing budget cuts of up to 20% across its output as part of its Delivering Quality First initiative, BBC controller Zai Bennett has chosen to axe the show at the end of its current series.

Bennett is understood to be pursuing a strategy of focusing investment on original commissions in post-watershed time slots. Since taking over, he has decommissioned shows including Ideal, Hotter Than My Daughter, Coming of Age and long-running sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

Speaking last month at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, Bennett said: "It's about focusing my budget on 9pm and 10.30pm; those are the time slots that count. Budgets are tight, so we have to be sensible with the money we have."

Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, will unveil the corporation's cost-cutting strategy – the outcome of the DQF process – on 6th October. It is thought to include proposals to exploit greater "synergies" between BBC1 and BBC3, with the digital channel acting as a "nursery slope" for its terrestrial cousin. BBC3 will also fill a greater proportion of its 7pm to 9pm slots with repeats of BBC1 shows.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "Doctor Who Confidential has been a great show for BBC3 over the years but our priority now is to build on original British commissions, unique to the channel."

DWO have been contactd by a fan who has started a campaign via Twitter to save the show, you can follow @SaveDWC here.

+  Follow DWO on Twitter!

[Source: The Guardian]

It's been confirmed that Piers Wenger, one of Doctor Who's three executive producers, is leaving the BBC.

Piers succeeded Julie Gardner as Head of Drama for BBC Wales and shortly after became executive producer of Doctor Who, taking an active role in the casting of Matt Smith as the Doctor. He also served as executive producer on Doctor Who: The Adventure Games and Doctor Who Confidential. Away from the TARDIS he worked on Ashes to Ashes, Christopher and His Kind and the relaunch of Upstairs Downstairs.

In March 2010 Piers stepped down as Head of Drama but remained at BBC Wales where he continued as creative leader for a number of key shows, including the award-winning Eric and Ernie.

He commented, 'It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to Doctor Who and BBC Drama, and all of the extraordinary people who I have worked with there.' Piers is leaving the BBC to join Film4 and everyone in the Doctor Who team would like to wish him the very best of luck in his new role.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

BBC Three's Doctor Who Confidential and YouTube video blogger, Charlie McDonnell, have uploaded the fourth behind-the-scenes video, which looks at this years Doctor Who Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol.

The feature can be found behind the BBC Red Button on Digital TV packages, and on the BBC's YouTube Channel.

The fourth video, 'Charlie and The Doctor's Badger' is now online and can be seen below:

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[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

BBC Three's Doctor Who Confidential and YouTube video blogger, Charlie McDonnell, have uploaded the third behind-the-scenes video, which looks at this years Doctor Who Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol.

The feature can be found behind the BBC Red Button on Digital TV packages, and on the BBC's YouTube Channel.

The third video, 'Charlie and the Christmas Lunch Bus' is now online and can be seen below:

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[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

DWO caught up with YouTube video blog sensation and newly-appointed Doctor Who Confidential Reporter, Charlie McDonnell, regarding his latest projects, future prospects and his love for Doctor Who.

Some facts...You are the most subscribed YouTuber in the UK. You have over 70 Million video views. Youre in a band. You have your own album. And you've achieved all of this within the space of 3 years. At just 20 years old, you must be pretty proud of your fantastic achievements. Where would you like to be 3 years from now?

Well, first and foremost I'd definitely still like to be making videos for YouTube, though my style of video-making has changed a lot over the last three years so I don't really know what kind of stuff I'll be putting up in the future - I just know that I'll be doing it on YouTube! I love making stuff, so I have vague ambitions to work film and television in the future (whether that be in front of or behind of the camera) but only so long as I can have the kind of creative control that I'm used to getting on my YouTube channel. I've had free reign to do pretty much whatever I want recently because I've only had to answer to myself, so having decisions dictated to me my broadcasters and producers scares me a little, but it's still something that I'd love to try id I ever get the chance.

You're shortly going to be making a brief transition from YouTube to the BBC Red Button with a behind-the-scenes look at the 2010 Christmas Special. How did the opportunity come about, and what is it like having two of your passions rolled into one?

The videos are actually appearing on YouTube as well as the red button, so fortunately it's not too much of a transition for me! I n fact the whole red button thing happened very last minute and wasn't something I really thought about - I was just trying to make videos for the internet as I would normally, but within the Doctor Who theme. I also had members of the Confidential team to work with too, a cameraman and video editors, but I still directed everything in the same way that I would my normal YouTube videos, just with more people to help. Being able to combine two things that I love though, video-making and Doctor Who, has just been a joy, and a great learning experience too.

Doctor Who... Lets talk some more about that! We've seen some glimpses of Doctor Who in your YouTube videos, and we know youre a big fan. Lets get down to basics though Charlie; Favourite Episode (Classic and New), Favourite Doctor, Favourite Companion and Favourite Monster / Villain?

New Series: my favourite episode is "Blink", and has been since the moment it was aired, I can't get enough of it. I loved all of The Moff's episodes from the era before he was the Show-runner really, but I think I love Blink for the way it managed to tell such a brilliant, engaging and frightening story on such a small budget - it's something that, as a wannabe indie-filmaker, I really admire. I haven't seen much of the classic series, only a few of the best ones, and out of those I'd probably have to say "Genesis of The Daleks". I still don't have a favourite Doctor, I've never been able to pick one, Rory is by far my all time favourite companion. And for favourite monster, the Daleks. They never used to be, but I gained a real a appreciation for them and the Dalek operators when I learnt how to operate one myself during my time on set. There will hopefully be a video of that in the future, though not one of the ones building up to the christmas special.

Have you ever ventured along to any of the Doctor Who conventions, and do you collect any of the merchandise?

Unfortunately I can't say that I ever have been to a Doctor Who convention, I have a much firmer place in the YouTube community so, whenever I can go to conventions of any kind, they're usually related to something YouTubey. I do however have a few bits of merchandise sitting on desks, in cupboards, one in my bathroom, and a TARDIS T-Shirt sitting in my draw. I'm not really one to collect things like that, but apparently I haven't managed to help picking up Doctor Who kink-kacks...

If offered, would you ever like a part in Doctor Who, and have you ever considered an acting career?

For almost my entire life, my dream was to become some kind of actor, but that ambition was shattered a couple of years ago when I realised that, truly, I just wasn't very good at it. I'd love a part in Doctor Who just for the sheer thrill of being on the show, but I think the chances of me actually being on it are pretty slim, simply because, for whatever role I could fit into, they'd probably be able to find someone better to cast than me! Maybe I'll be an extra or something, but for the moment, hanging out behind the scenes will do :)

 Check Out more DWO interviews in the Interviews section of our Features area, here.

 Check Out the CharlieIsSoCoolLike YouTube Channel, here.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

BBC Three's Doctor Who Confidential and YouTube video blogger, Charlie McDonnell, have uploaded the second behind-the-scenes video, which looks at this years Doctor Who Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol.

The feature can be found behind the BBC Red Button on Digital TV packages.

The second video, 'Charlie and the TARDIS' is now online and can be seen below:

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[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

BBC Three's Doctor Who Confidential and YouTube video blogger, Charlie McDonnell, have teamed up to offer a behind-the-scenes look at this years Doctor Who Christmas Special, A Christmas Carol.

The feature can be found behind the BBC Red Button on Digital TV packages, and will offer Four videos in total, with one being released every day until Christmas Eve.

The first video, 'Charlie and the Runner' is now online and can be seen below:

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[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]